Epimedium is a Chinese herb traditionally used to treat fatigue and sexual problems. Cancer patients may experience symptoms of sexual dysfunction such as painful intercourse, loss of libido, and ability to maintain arousal. These problems can be caused by many factors: stress, emotional distress, hormone changes, as well as various cancer treatments. Initial results suggest that a special blend of Epimedium may help prevent bone loss, but more studies are needed.
Epimedium may affect hormone levels, and should be avoided in patients with hormone-sensitive cancers or those with heart disease.